The New England Sour

Sweet maple syrup, top-shelf vodka, and tart grapefruit juice combine to create the very interesting New England sour. It's a simple cocktail recipe with a fascinating flavor that you simply have to experience for yourself. If you enjoy a whiskey sour, you're going to appreciate this fun and simple twist on the classic.

The cocktail was created at Bounce Sporting Club in New York City for one of the New England Patriots' many Super Bowl appearances. It mixes up quickly and is a great pour-and-serve drink that really is perfect for game day parties. There's no need to fear that you'll be stuck mixing drinks in the kitchen and miss the action with this one. You could even mix up a full pitcher and let a house full of guests help themselves.

How to Make It

An Inspiration for Variations

Just like the whiskey sour, you can find inspiration in the New England sour to give the recipe your own spin. The sweet, rich maple against the tart citrus is a great combination and there's no need to stick with the vodka of choice here.

Vodka is not the only liquor that can work here, either. A shot of almost any whiskey—especially bourbons and rye whiskies—can give the drink a great kick and add a nice oaky or spicy background. Feel free to go bold, too, and choose a full-flavored, over-proof whiskey. Knob Creek, Rittenhouse Rye 100, and Booker's Bourbon are a few great options.

Rum is another great choice for this sour. It will add a subtle sweetness that plays really well off the maple syrup. Consider going with an aged rum like Appleton Estate VX or Brugal Añejo. Flavored rums, including the likes of Brinley Gold's Coffee or Vanilla Rum, would be fun additions as well. And, if you cannot get enough of spiced rum, this recipe is another excellent venue for a shot of that.

How Strong Is the New England Sour?

You'll notice that the juice makes up most of the volume in the New England sour and that helps create a rather tame drink. On average, it has an alcohol content around 11 percent ABV (22 proof), which is similar to many wines. This fact also adds to its appeal for parties because you know that your guests aren't drinking something that's too strong.

Rate This Recipe

I don't like this at all.It's not the worst.Sure, this will do.I'm a fan—would recommend.Amazing! I love it!Thanks for your rating!